Balboa’s concussion reduces roster to 15 for match in Russia.

(Monday, April 24, 2000) – Colorado Rapids defender Marcelo Balboa
suffered a concussion in Saturday’s 3-2 victory at the Columbus Crew and has been scratched from the United States
men’s game Wednesday against Russia in Moscow.

The Americans left for Russia today with a roster reduced to 15 players.

The 11 a.m. (ET) match will be available on pay-per-view television on the Dish Network satellite system and many
cable systems.

Balboa suffered a Grade II concussion in the 15th minute of the Rapids match Saturday against the Columbus Crew.
It was the result of a collision with Brian McBride who will make the
trip to Russia.

Balboa had been a late replacement for D.C. United defender Eddie Pope
who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week. Fowards Brian West of Columbus and
Jason Kreis of the Dallas Burn were added to the roster to replace
European-based attackers Joe-Max Moore (knee) and
Ernie Stewart (hamstring) who are injured.

Wednesday’s match marks the first time the U.S. has traveled to Moscow for a full international. The match against
Russia will mark the first meeting between the teams since January 29, 1994, when the two battled to a 1-1 draw in
Seattle. The U. S. is 0-1-2 all-time against Russia, but has also played two matches against the Commonwealth of
Independent States (going 1-1 in 1992), and the Soviet Union (going 0-3-1 dating back to 1979).

The American men will play their first match since March 12, when the team came from behind in extra time to tie
Tunisia on Ben Olsen's goal in Birmingham, Alabama. The squad is 3-0-3
record in 2000, and will use the Russia match as a tune-up for the U.S. Nike Cup in June, where it will face South
Africa, Ireland and Mexico in Washington D.C., Boston and New York City, respectively.